Viv Dunstan's indexes

Welcome to my page of genealogical indexes. In each case I started the index because I thought it would help me in my genealogical research and there was not already an index. Rather than just search for the items I needed and possibly miss them in my haste, I decided instead to systematically index all of the items, thus increasing my chances of (eventually!) finding the things I was looking for. A side benefit is that the indexes can help fellow researchers. A drawback is that the indexing usually takes much longer than I had anticipated!

Many of my indexing projects concern the Scottish Borders, my home area. Commonly I come across records (even though I am now at a distance from the Borders) that could do with an index, and sometimes I am daft enough to compile one. I am always keen to hear suggestions for new indexes, particularly indexes for the Scottish Borders. Even if I cannot compile the indexes I may be able to persuade someone else to do so. So please contact me with comments and suggestions.

At the moment I have two major ongoing genealogical indexing projects:

Future indexes planned (some of which may be published) include the following:

An index of names of Scottish Borderers recorded in the Kelso Chronicle newspaper in 1854 (and possibly 1855 too) as donating money to the Patriotic Fund, a fund set up to support families of soldiers in the Crimean War. People from the wealthy down to farm labourers and domestic servants donated money, and the local newspapers often carried lists of those giving donations.

A list of criminals/victims mentioned in local court reports in the Kelso Chronicle (early 1850s). These cover major court cases in the Sheriff Courts (e.g. at Jedburgh) through to cases in smaller courts like the bailie courts, police courts, poaching courts etc. Crimes ranged from murder to small robberies.

Names of prize winners in horticultural shows printed in the Kelso Chronicle in the past (starting with the early 1850s). Old newspapers regularly listed prize winners at local horticultural shows and this can reveal a hitherto unknown gardening interest in ancestors. I've been surprised for example in the Kelso Chronicle to find one of my gggg-grandfathers regularly winning prizes at Kelso horticultural shows.

For further information about any of these indexes (past, present or future) please
email me. I am afraid that copies are not currently available for purchase, but I can do limited lookups for people.